Saturday, 18 October 2014

Although Sicily is perhaps not the first place that comes to mind
when it comes to fine food, it can definitely stand its ground against
the more famous and renowned regions of Italy. If you're booking a stay
in one of the fabulous villas in Sicily and you're planning an
itinerary, you should seriously consider a few days of exploration of
the Ragusa province - it will provide a gastronomic agenda that won't
leave you disappointed.

Bounties From the Sea

You
can thank Ragusa's location in the southeastern corner of the island
for its array of succulent, traditional dishes that make full use of the
bounty from the sea. If you're staying in any one of the wonderful
villas in Sicily, you won't have to venture too far to find the bustling
waterfront, with fishermen bringing in their catch of the day. Ragusa
has an excellent array of dining places, serving all sorts of delicious
seafood delights. One particularly notable restaurant is a quaint little
place called Trattoria da Carmelo, where you can enjoy a meal of fresh
seafood and pasta overlooking the Mediterranean. But that is only one
delightful option; there are a number of other dining places along the
waterfront strip, each one with its own unique way of bringing out the
local flavours. Try them all if you have time!

A Haven for the Sweet Tooth

Those
booking a stay in any of the villas in Sicily will quickly discover
that chocolate and chocolate-flavoured concoctions are commonly found
throughout the island. But there are certain towns where chocolate is
not just created and enjoyed - it is celebrated. The Baroque town of
Modica - popularly referred to as the 'town of a hundred churches'
(we'll leave it up to you to count them!) - is one such place. Simply
wandering along its streets and alleys is a heady experience, as the
whole town is redolent with the fragrance of chocolate. There are many
speciality chocolatiers here that have perfected the art of transforming
chocolate into a diversity of scrumptious creations - forget those
international candy or chocolate brands, as none of them can hold a
candle to the signature creations of any shop in this town! Don't pass
up the opportunity to sample the most amazing hot chocolate you'll ever
taste while you're here.

Cheesy Get-away

And
by cheesy, we don't mean tacky or overly cloying - we're referring to
the real cheese! If you're staying at one of the villas in Sicily near
the province of Ragusa, you won't have to look far or hard to sample its
traditional cheese. The province - and each of its towns - has its own
special cheeses, renowned throughout the country. For example, the
cheese called 'Caciocavallo Ragusano' is an intense, yet delicately
flavoured one, which was first created 500 years ago. This cheese is
ripened in caves (only in the town of Ragusa) and it's a must to visit
these sites to witness the fascinating process of creating this fine
cheese. The island has many other local cheeses and, accompanied by a
good bottle of local red wine, it's an unforgettable adventure trying to
sample each and every one!

Helen Forbes is from Essential Italy, a company specialising in
Italian holiday villas, apartments and hotels. If you're looking for the
perfect villas in Sicily we can help. Our handpicked accommodation offers distinctive Italian qualities, great comfort and convenience.